Glass structure



M n R GU mm mm Um OS m WG H a 0 M M No. 524,937. Patented Aug. 21 1894.

INVENTOH A rronkzrs v WITNESSES UNITED I STAT S PATENT OFFICE.

GLASS STRUCTURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 524,937, dated August21, 1894. ApplicationfiIedSeptemberZ,1893- serni io. 484,628. (NomodeL)f0 all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, EDGAR W. CUNNING- HAM, of Jersey City, in the countyof Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Glass Structures, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in glass structures, andespecially to an improvement in the construction of the roofs ofconservatories and like glass structures, or the formation of the sidesor any portion of the structure where the panes or panels of glass aremade to overlap, and the object of theinvention isto provide a couplingbetween overlapping panelsor panes of glass, which coupling will besimple, durable and conveniently applied, and will effectually preventwater, snow or moisture from finding an entrance into the structure atthe overlapping of the panes or panels.

Another feature of the invention is to provide a simple coupling forconnecting overlapping panes of glass, which coupling will admit ofexpansion and contraction of the panes or panels, or the supportstherefor, the coupling adhering at all times in sealing contact with thepanels.

Theinventionconsistsin the novel construction and combination of theseveral parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed outin the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar figures and letters of referenceindicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure '1 is a perspective view of overlappingpanels, illustrating theapplication of the improved coupling thereto. Fig. 2 is a sectional Viewthrough the coupling and through one pane or panel of glass locatedtherein. Fig. 3 is a sectional view through two panes of glassoverlapping and coupled by the coupling, the coupling being in section,and the section is taken practically on the line 3-3 of Fig.1. .Fig. 4is a perspective view of overlapping panels, illustrating aslightmodification in the construction of the coupling. Fig. 5 is adetail perspective view of the coupling shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is aperspective view of overlapping panes,

same.

and a similar view of a further modification in the form of thecoupling; and Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the coupling shownin Fig. 6.

. In Figs. 1, 2, and 3, I have illustrated a form of the coupling, whichcomprises practically all of the features shown in the modificationsnoted in the remaining views. The coupling is made of sheet metal havingspring characteristics, as for example sheet brass, and the material isbent uponitself to form a body leaf 10, and a flange 11, locatedlongitudinally at one end of the body leaf, said flange being shapedsubstantially as an inverted U, and thefiange in its outer face isprovided with any desired number of apertures 12. The metal after theflange and body leaf have been formed, is bent upon itself to form ashoulder and a gutter 13 at the side of the body leaf opposite that atwhich the flange 11, is located, the gutter being formed by carrying themetal downward from the body leaf, and then practically upward until theouter edge of the gutter is substantially in the sameplane as theloweredge of the body leaf. In forming the gutter the metal is bent uponitself, and is finally carried from the gutter beneath the body leaf 10,forming thereby an under spring leaf 14, preferably of the same lengthand practically of the same width as the body leaf. Normally the underor spring leaf 14, will stand at an angle to the body leaf, as shown inFig. 2. In the application of this form of coupling, one pane or panelof glass A, the upper one, for example, is made to rest upon the bodyleaf, and its edge enters the flange 11, and the gutter 13, will bebeneath the upper pane or panel and will catch any products ofcondensation leaving the The next pane or panel B or that which is to beunder the upper one, is made to engage with the shoulder on the underside of the spring leaf 14, and when the panes or panels have beenpermanentlyfitted in their frames, the spring leaf will. be carried upto practically a firm engagement with the body leaf, as shown in Fig. 3,and the upper edge of the lower pane will abut against the gutter 13.Since the lower leaf 14 is a spring leaf it will follow the face of theglass no matter how irregular it maybe, audit is seldom that the glassused in conservatories or other glass structures is made perfectlysmooth and straight upon its faces. It is likewise evident that it willbe impossible for water to beat in between the two panes of glass andtheir overlapping portions, since it will be stopped at the juncture ofthe two leaves, and any water that may run down the top panel or pane,and find its way within the to flange 11, will likewise find its way outthrough the apertures 12 in the flange.

In Figs. 4 and 5 the flange 11 is omitted, and the upper pane rests uponthe body leaf while the lower pane has bearing against the r5 undersurface of the spring leaf. In Figs. 6 and 7, the gutter is omitted, andin its place a flange 15, is formed at the inner end of the body andspring leaves, the flange 15, facing downward, and it is preferably astraight flange, While the -upper flange, which is the U flangeheretofore referred to, faces upward, and in applying this form ofcoupling to the panes of glass the upper pane is fitted at its loweredge in the upper flange, while the upper edge of the lower pane willengage with the lower flange, and no matter what the form of couplingmay be it is utterly impossible for water to beat into the structurebetween the overlapping panes or panels.

0 The coupling is exceedingly simple, it is durableand economic, and itmay be applied withconvenience and dispatch wherever overlapping panesor panels are used.

Having thus described my invention, I

5 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. Thecombination,with overlapping panels, of a coupling, the same consistingof a spring material bent upon itself to form two 40 opposing leaveshaving a water-tight connection atone edge, the said leaves being bothlocated between the opposing surfaces of the overlapping panels, theirfree ends facing outward, and tending to separate, substantially 5 asand for the purpose specified, whereby the edges of the panels will havea cushion bearmg and water will be prevented from driving into thestructure to which the panels are applied.

2. The combination, with overlapping pan-- els, of a-coupling, the same.consisting of a spring material bent upon itself to form two opposingleaves, the said leaves-being provided with a water-tight connection atone of their edges, and both located between the opposing faces of theoverlapping panels, the free ends of the leaves facing outward, and agutter formed at the inner or connected edge of said leaves, said gutterbeing located adjacent to the inner edge of the lowermost oftheoverlapping panels,substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination, with overlapping panels, of a coupling, the sameconsisting of a spring material bent upon itself to form two opposingleaves, both located between the opposing faces of the said overlappingpanels, said leaves havinga water-tight connection at their inner edges,one leaf at its outer edge having binding engagement with the'edge ofthe uppermost panel, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The coupling for overlapping panels of glass structures, consistingof two flat,- springmetal leaves, one having a flange, 11, projectingupward at its lower edge, the said leaves being arranged one aboveanother, but normally diverging at an acute angle, and con- 'nected by awater-tight 'joint at their rear edges, and also provided with ashoulder adjacent to their point of divergence, as shown and described.

5. A coupling for overlapping panels, the same consisting of two leavesof a spring character arranged one below the other and hav-- ing awater-tight connection at one point, a gutter located at theconnecting-portion of the leaves, and an apertured flange locatedat thefree end. of one of the leaves, as and :for the purpose specified.

EDGAR W. CUNNINGHAM.

Witnesses:

' WILLIAM PAEGLOW,

GEORGE H. NEWKIRK.

